I'm always so relieved when Nicola arrives back from Port Wade--not so much that she's gotten back safely, but that finally all the painful parts (at least as regards Nicola) are over, and from now on I can relax as I read.
I am very interested by the hints you pick out that Rowan and Giles are particularly close; I've been storing up a lot to say on this account come Run Away Home, but I never thought about it here and I think you're spot on.
I'm in two minds about the Forest Manifesto for the Suppression of, etc., at least here. I think I sympathize with Nicola--it's no fun not only dealing with your own unhappiness, but having it avidly observed by a lot of people who are not personally involved and with whom you are not intimate. To be willing to show yourself upset in front of the general public (as opposed to close friends, family etc.) requires, I think, the ability to decide that you are 100% in the right (i.e. the victim, I suppose) and that is rarely a quality of Nicola's (not so sure about the rest of the family, that's a whole 'nother can of worms. Giles possibly; Karen no, except when deciding to get married; Rowan, outwardly often but inwardly not quite so much; Ginty, kind of the opposite; Ann no, except for theological issues; Peter absolutely no way; Lawrie most often yes...? Oh dear, one could get carried away with all this taxonomy).
I love "someone rather thoughtful, unexpectedly practical, occasionally solemn" as a summing up of Pomona, although considering that almost every appearance she makes post-Autumn Term is marked with the word "stolid" I'm not sure "occasionally" is on the money. I've just deleted some rambling about Pomona which would be better off waiting for Cricket Term, but I do like the person she turns into. (Wouldn't anyone like to provide some Pomona fic?)
Anyway, thank you for this fascinating series of discussions; looking forward to each week's posts. Take care.
no subject
I am very interested by the hints you pick out that Rowan and Giles are particularly close; I've been storing up a lot to say on this account come Run Away Home, but I never thought about it here and I think you're spot on.
I'm in two minds about the Forest Manifesto for the Suppression of, etc., at least here. I think I sympathize with Nicola--it's no fun not only dealing with your own unhappiness, but having it avidly observed by a lot of people who are not personally involved and with whom you are not intimate. To be willing to show yourself upset in front of the general public (as opposed to close friends, family etc.) requires, I think, the ability to decide that you are 100% in the right (i.e. the victim, I suppose) and that is rarely a quality of Nicola's (not so sure about the rest of the family, that's a whole 'nother can of worms. Giles possibly; Karen no, except when deciding to get married; Rowan, outwardly often but inwardly not quite so much; Ginty, kind of the opposite; Ann no, except for theological issues; Peter absolutely no way; Lawrie most often yes...? Oh dear, one could get carried away with all this taxonomy).
I love "someone rather thoughtful, unexpectedly practical, occasionally solemn" as a summing up of Pomona, although considering that almost every appearance she makes post-Autumn Term is marked with the word "stolid" I'm not sure "occasionally" is on the money. I've just deleted some rambling about Pomona which would be better off waiting for Cricket Term, but I do like the person she turns into. (Wouldn't anyone like to provide some Pomona fic?)
Anyway, thank you for this fascinating series of discussions; looking forward to each week's posts. Take care.